Getting your motorcycle out of winter: discover the VFLUO checklist!
Do you feel it...? This sun that comes to warm up all your hopes for a walk?
We were waiting for it and finally, here it is bringing us spring and our freedom of movement. We dreamed about it all winter, when our best friend slept in the garage under her little blanket (how do we do too much?!).
Before taking the bike out for your first big roads, we have prepared a quick checklist of the main preparation steps to be carried out.
Find here the infographic summarizing our article.
Check your battery status
After staying in winter for a long time, the battery could have been affected by low temperatures, which is why we recommend disconnecting it before the onset of winter.
If you have not done so, you can check the charge of your battery with a multimeter. If the battery can be charged, then you will simply have to use a battery charger but if your multimeter indicates a figure lower than 11V then you will absolutely have to replace your battery...
Perform the main checks
First of all, it is important to see if the tires are still able to roll, so we will look at tire pressure and wear.
If the tires are too worn, it is strongly recommended to change them before hitting the road.
Thereafter, remember to check the condition of the brakes (levers and pads) as well as the clutch.
Once all these elements have been reviewed, the battery can be reconnected!
Check your motorcycle's fluids
The second step is to control all the fluids on your motorcycle. The brake fluid and coolant must absolutely be checked, in general the coolant drops little but the brake fluid can decrease because it depends on the wear of your brake pads.
In terms of gearbox oil, control is also very important because this liquid decreases very little, but if you notice a sharp drop in your gearbox oil, a leak must be detected quickly! The last liquid to check is the engine oil liquid, it can be checked either by a gauge on a gauge or via a simple visual check through a window. The engine oil tank can be in different places depending on your engine.
PS: If your engine oil is white, you will need to drain the engine and replace the oil filter. This happens regularly if the motorcycle is little used.
Control security
The verification of all security elements is mainly based on tests. The elements to be tested are the front and rear lights as well as the indicators, the shock absorbers and the brakes of course. The tests are carried out when stopped.
Concerning the reflective stickers (approved or decorative), it is necessary to take care that they are not detached or dirty, to clean them if necessary. Do not hesitate to test their reflective power. Do you remember how we do it?
Step back at least one meter. Take a photo with then without flash with your smartphone. See the difference!
Clean up!
Before starting your motorcycle, all you have to do is make the last classic and usual settings:
Mirror adjustment and cleaning Last little things to clean up Buffing
Before start-up
It is advisable to restart your motorcycle with fresh gasoline, gasoline that has been stagnating in the tank all winter must have lost its quality. Letting the engine run a few minutes before this first start is essential so as not to rush your “darling”. Once all these tips have been applied, you can go for your first little spring trip by avoiding a very long journey for this recovery!
Most important: ENJOY!
And do not hesitate to send us lots of beautiful photos to show us how our products accompany you.
